A licence review of a city centre record shop where 'evidence of drug use' was found is finally set to go before councillors.
Officers requested a review of 3Beat Records’ licence back in January 2020 following a series of visits which saw them find evidence of drug use on the premises as well as a range of other concerns.
However, due to the licence holders’ difficulties in attending a remote meeting and their assurance that the premises wouldn’t be open during the pandemic, the review was delayed.
It will now take place later this month.
Documents published ahead of a proposed October review meeting that did not go ahead, indicated that officers found a range of issues over their visits to the Slater Street store in December 2019 and January 2020.
On their first they found evidence which suggested drugs had been used at 3Beat and were unable to access CCTV footage at the premises, a requirement of the licence.
A report from Merseyside Police said: “During the visit, they found a metal bench outside with customers smoking and drinking alcohol from bottles from 3Beat in the street.
“The officers went inside and spoke to the one employee present. There was evidence of drug use (empty snap bags) on the floor and on seats upstairs. The Police were unable to check CCTV, due to there being no monitor at the venue. The Police have still not been able to review the CCTV coverage after three visits.
“The lone employee had poor knowledge of the venue, didn’t know who authorised the sale of alcohol and was unable to produce a summary of the licence.”
Later visits also found issues with record keeping and concern customers were bringing their own drinks.
A report from a January 18 visit said: “Again, there were several breaches of the licence, including no incident book, no refusals book, door wide open, unable to access CCTV, customers bringing drinks with them and drinks taken outside.
“No control of the door whatsoever in terms of drinks coming and going. No drinks price list, no summary of the licence, drinks with ‘Not to be sold separately’ on them.”
When approached by the ECHO when the review was first requested in early 2020, then licence holder Thomas Toft told the ECHO he didn’t understand why the venue’s licence was being reviewed and said the venue was trouble free.
